Moving-picture apparatus.



. PATENTED JAN 3, 1905.

G. F. JENKINS.

MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 30, 1904.

WITNESSES: J X D-Qw: W"

UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FRANCIS JENKINS, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO JENKINS PI-IANTOSCOPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MOVING-PICTURE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 779,364, dated J anua'ry 3, 1905.

Application filed June 30, 1904. Serial No- 214,764.

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FRANcIs JEN- KINs,-of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Moving-Picture Apparatus, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to that general class of apparatus known as moving-picture machines and the special class in which the sevro eral pictures of the series are printed on cards attached at one end to a belt or other common carrier.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means whereby the picture-cards may be closely grouped on bands which are readily interchangeable in the exhibiting-machine. These features are secured in the manner disclosed in the following specification, and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the picture-cards mounted on the band or carrier; Fig. 2, the method of grouping the pictures before attaching them to the picture-band; Fig. 3, the picture-cards notched at the bottom, and Fig. i the machine in which the pictures are exhibited.

In all the views the same letters refer to corresponding parts.

To be so satisfactory as to come into general use, moving-picture apparatus must be 3 compact and inexpensive, the picture series must be readily interchangeable, and the pictures must be clear, well illuminated, and steady. These desirable features are secured in the apparatus which forms the subject of 3 5 this application. Thus by grouping the picture-cards closely many pictures may be arranged in small compass and by attaching them at right angles to the carrier pictures may be printed on both sides of the cards,

4 doubling the number without increasing the space occupied; also, with pictures at right angles to the carrier the pictures slip from under the detent in the exhibiting-machine with the least possible vertical movement, all

three extremely desirable ends.

The picture-cards A are arranged in an assembling form B, with the narrower separators C between adjacent cards, the separators in most cases being little, if any, thicker than the picture-cards. WVhen the full com- 5 plement is thus arranged, the screw D is turned up, clamping the whole firmly. The pack is now inverted, and the free margins of the cards, which project beyond the separators, are dipped into a shallow pan containing elas- 5 5 tic glue or other elastic compound rendered liquid by heat or otherwise. When the glue has risen to a proper height on the picturecards, as shown by the black line E, Fig. 1, by reason of the capillary spaces between the cards, the pacl: is lifted out and put down on the belt F, of canvas, leather, or other suitable material, and allowed to set, after which the form B and the separators C are removed.

It has been found advantageous to have the 5 cards notched or perforated, as shown in Fig.

3. This gives a larger body of elastic material between the cards and the band. It has also been found that with the proper composition of this binding material no band is re- 7 quired. Especially is this the case when reinforced by the cords Gr, inserted in the notches, although a belt may be used therewith where desirable. The cords are also found useful in drawing the ends of the picture-band together to make a continuous belt of it, the shape in which it is used in the exhibiting-machine shown in Fig. 4.

The operation of the machine itself is so obvious, it is believed, in view of the present state of the art as to need no extended explanation, except possibly the new detent H. This detent of spring-brass, for example, is

attached to the case I and held down by the right-angle bend in the stem of the finger- 8 5 piece J. This position gives the picture-cards the proper bend to display them as they slip from under the detent. Now when a new set of pictures are to be put in the finger-button is pulled forward, releasing the detent, which 9 springs into the position shown by the dotted lines. This allows the picture-band to readily be slipped off and just as readily allows another to be slipped on the drum K, after which the detent is again depressed until it catches. To get the picture-band on with the detent down requires that a number of the picturecards shall be bent down to go under the detent, and this is very difficult. Another advantage in the movable detent is that with the detent up it allows the cards to remain standing, so that they do not acquire a set, losing some of their springiness between exhibitions.

The drum L is simply a rolling weight hung in the loop of the picture-band to aid in holding the band in tractional contact with the drum K.

It should be noted that very great advantage accrues from the use of an elastic medium for holding the cards together, not the least of which is the possibility of using stiff cards or glass or metal should occasion require, the required elasticity being stored in the material attaching the picture to the belt.

I claim- 1. In moving-picture apparatus, the combination with a set of series picture-cards normally parallel and in registry, of elastic material connecting the marginal portion of one lateral face of each card to the corresponding portion of the next card and holding all the cards out of contact With each other.

2. In moving-picture apparatus, the combination with a set of normally parallel, slightly-separated series picture-cards bearing registering series pictures, of elastic material interposed between the successive cards along one side of the same and holding them out of contact with each other while uniting them, by adhesion to each.

3. In moving-picture apparatus, the combination With a set of normally parallel, slightly-separated series picture-cards, of a suitable carrier, elastic material covering one face of the carrier and engaging one edge face of each card of the set and also extending to a material distance from the carrier, between the cards, and by adhesion connecting the lateral faces of the adjacent cards.

4. In moving-picture apparatus, the combination with a flexible band or carrier, of elastic material borne by one face of the band, and a set of series picture-cards having corresponding margins embedded in said material at some distance from each other, whereby the material between the cards keeps them out of contact while uniting their opposing faces along the embedded margins.

5. In movingncture apparatus, the combination with a set of series picture-cards each having one margin notched, of elastic material covering the notched margins and by adhesion uniting adjacent lateral faces while holding the successive cards out of contact with each other.

6. In moving-picture apparatus, the combination with a set of cards bearing registering series pictures, of cords extending along the whole set near one side of the cards, and elastic material between all adjacent cards at said side and by adhesion uniting the lateral faces of the cards and holding the cords in position.

7. In moving-picture apparatus, the combination with a flexible band, of elastic material adherent to one face of said band, and a set of series picture-cards approximately perpendicular to the band and all having their corresponding margins embedded in said material at some distance from each other.

C. FRANCIS JENKINS. WVitnesses:

A. B. DREW, I/V. CLARENCE DUVALL. 

